Voxpop

As Garrick Hamm prepares to take over as president of D&AD, the organisation is still trawling for a chief executive. Who would you like to see take the helm there and what do they need to contribute most?

D&AD’s chief executive should contribute to promoting British design and art direction (representing the majority of members), while possibly not putting so much emphasis on competing internationally with other global design and advertising bodies and awards schemes. Like the Premier League, D&AD seems to be relying increasingly on foreign money and interest to achieve its goals. The concern is that this will ultimately undermine the home game – British design. If it is going to pursue this route, perhaps a Russian billionaire would be perfect.
Paul Tunnicliffe, Creative director, Blast

For me it comes down to two things, inspiration and education. Leading from the front to inspire our creatives to even greater things, and fighting our corner at the very highest levels of Government and business. Having just been hugely disappointed by a number of graduate shows up north, we desperately need to turn our young talent tap back on, throughout the UK. Not easy. Presume that’s why its taking so long.
Nick Ramshaw, Managing director, Elmwood Leeds

Any organisation like the D&AD needs to truly represent and champion the industry, so alongside the positive appointment of Garrick Hamm, I’d suggest someone with the qualities of Phil Jones – someone who can bridge all creative disciplines equally and is a bloody good communicator and motivator. You’ve then got Team GB of the creative world.
Gregor Jackson, Managing director, GP Studio

There’s a bothersome gap in significance between the excellent educational charity D&AD and its annual spectacle, the D&AD Awards. The last celebrity master of ceremonies at this interminable evening of eulogy to confectionery jingles and tampon packaging could not himself resist parodying his paymasters. But the image-making industries have plenty of potential to interest those outside the trade: the next chief executive needs to give definition to this potential, combining a healthy respect for unique and appreciable skills with a healthy dose of scepticism.
Emily Campbell, Head of design and architecture, British Council